Progressive illuminating means



2 487,73 &

Nov. 8, 1949 R. H. SEAMAN PROGRESSIVE ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed May 24,1,94?

, I N VEN TOR. Hawaii/5642mm,

AW r 6 7%, 41%

Patented Nov. 8, 1949 2 487334 PROGRESSIVE 'ILLUMINATING Richard H.Seaman,

to Mega "Gorporation, corporation of California Application May 24,1947, SerialNo."750;352

'7 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to improvements inprogressive illuminating means.

More particularly, the present'invention relates to control means forone or a plurality of flucrescent tubes whereby the various portions ofeach or all of said tubes maybe activated progressively according to apredetermined program. Such devices are useful foradvertising and otherpurposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide progressiveilluminating means involving one or more fluorescent tubes whichilluminating means involve only simple and sturdy :parts which are notlikely to get out of order.

A further object is to provide progressive illuminating means involvingone or more fluomatically a preferred embodiment of'the presentinvention.

The numerals li)-l indicate fiuorescenttubes, each of which is providedwith a cathode 'H and a plurality of anodes l2, l3, l4 and i5. Saidtubes are preferably of the hot cathode type. The number of anodes maybe chosen within a relatively wide range, the number and the spacing ofthe anodes depending upon the type of service in which the device is tobe used. Any number of tubes may be used.

The numerals l6 and I1 indicate a supply circuit which may be connectedto a source of alternating current. The circuit [5, I1 is provided with"the fuse l8 and the main switch 19. The circuit l6, l1 supplies theprimary '20 of a transformer 2| and also supplies the primary 22 of thehigh reactance transformer 2 3. The transformer 23 is "provided with thesecondary winding 25, the twoterminalsthereof being connected to theplates of the tubes -2626 of the full wave rectifier assembly oruni-directional power source "21. The transformer 21 is utilized forheating the cathodes H-ll of the tubes Ill-11] and the cathodes ofthe1tubes 2fi-45 and for this purpose is provided with the plurality ofsecondary windings 2.8-18connected to the L05 Angeles, Calif,,-assignorLos 'Angeles, Calif a corresponding cathodes in the tubes 10- M ;-and

with the secondary winding 29 connected :to the cathodes of therectifying =tubes 26-46. The mid-point of the secondary winding 'isadapted to be connected by means of the conductor 30 to the cathode I I"of the firs't tube 10. The last anode, [5, of the first tube I0 isconnected to the cathode I! of the next tube 10 by means :of theconductor 3i. The conductor 60 :has interposed therein *the time-delayswitch 31a. This switch may be of either the thermal or magnetic "typeand is illustrated as being operable in *response to a coil 3lbconnected across :the terminals of the primary 2.2 of the transformer28. The time-delay switch .3la will provide va delay in the operation ofthe uni-directional zpower source until the cathodes have beenheated.

The numerals '32, 33, 34 and 35 indicate relays adapted to completecircuit successively to the anodes, l2, l3, l4 and 15 of the first tubel0. The numerals 36, 131 and '38 indicate relays adapted to completecircuit successively 'to :the "anodes l2, l3, and '5 :of the second tubeno. The'relays 32, 3'3, 34, 35, 36, 31 and 338 may :be :of known typesreadily purchasable in the market and need not be described in detail:herein. It will be sufiicient to state that each of said relays is ofthe time-delay type and will operate only after the lapse of apredetermined interval (which should preferably be variable at =the'wlllof the operator) after being energized.

The relays "-32, 33, '34, 35, 36, 31 and 38 may be of similarconstruction, each being provided with a core '39 "and operating coil M,a two-position switch arm '41 and a pair of relatively stationarycontacts 42 and 43. One terminal of the coil of the relay 32 is"connected'to *the positive side o'fthe uni-directional power source 21and the other terminal of said coil is connected to the switch arm '41ofthatrelay. Each of the stationary contacts 12-42 of "the variousrelays connected to its individual anode 5H, 13 or H of the tubesI'll-11). The stationary contact l3 of the relay (l2 'is connected toone terminal of the operating coil 40 of the cnext .relay, 33. The otherterminal of the operating coil of the relay 33 :isconnected tothe-swltchiarm M of that relay. The relatively stationary contacts 43-43of the relays I33 and Y34 are connected to the operating coils :of thenext succeeding relays, respectively. 'Theastationary-contacts 43oftherelayl35 isconnected .to one terminal of the operating coil on therelay 36 associated with .thesecond tube 10. The other terminal of thisoperating coil :is connected :to the switch :arm

'ator) said relay 33 will operate to cuit to the next succeeding anode,resulting in 4| of said relay 36. The stationary contacts 43-43 of therelays 36 and 31 are connected to the switch arm 4| of the relays 36 and31, respectively. The relatively stationary contact 43 of the relay 38is connected to the anode of the last of the tubes l0 through aconductor 44.

Interposed in the conductor 44 is a relay 45 which may be a relay of thethermal type or other delayed -action type which will have the functionof extinguishing the illumination of the tubes |0||I after the lapse ofa predetermined time interval following the completion'of theillumination of said tubes. A I

The drawing illustrates schematically a type of relay 45 which may beemployed in connection with the conductor 44. Said relay includes aswitch 46 biased to closedposition located inv the circuit connectingthe rectifier assembly 21 with the operating coil 40 of the relay 32.cated in the conductor 44 is the operating coil 41 adapted after thelapse of a predetermined time interval (which should be variable at thechoice of the operator) to open the switch 46. The opening of the switch46 will break the circuit through both tubes |0|Ui, the switch 46 willreturn to its biased closed position and the progressive illumination ofthe tubes |0|t1 will start anew.

A preferred mode of operation of the above described embodiment of thepresent invention is substantially as follows:

With-the main switch I3 open, none of the operating coils of the relays32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 3?

and 38 will be energized and each of the switch arms 4| of said relayswill be in its biased posi tion so that said'switch areas will engagethe contacts 4242 which contacts are electrically connected to theanodes of the tubes Ill-l3. Upon closure 0f the main switch IS thetransformer 2| will be energized whereb the secondary windings 28, 29thereof will deliver heating current to the cathodes I of the tubes|0-|D and 26--26. After the lapse of a predetermined time interval, thetime-delay switch 3|a will close and full wave impulses will be;

delivered from the positive side of the uni-directional power source 21through the coil 4| of the relay 32, switch arm 4| and contact '42 tothe anode |2 'of the first tube I0. Discharge will occur between theanode I2 and the cathode II, the current returning through the conductor30 and switch 3| a to the midpoint of the secondary winding 28 of thehigh reactance transformer 23. That portion of the first tube it between'theanode l2 and the cathode II will be illuminated.

After the lapse of a predetermined period of .time after theenergization of the coil 40 of the relay 32, said relay 32 will draw theswitch arm 4| into engagement with the contact 43 of the relay 32,thereby completing circuit from the rectifier assembly through the coil4!], switch arm 4|; and contact 43 of the relay 32 to the coil '40 ofthe relay 33 through the switch arm of said relay to the anode l3 of thetube It]; .Discharge will occur in the first tube It! between the anodeI3 and the cathode thereof, current returning through the conductor 3|]to the midpoint of the secondary winding 28 of the transformer 23.

After the lapse of a predetermined time interval (which should bevariable at the will of the opercomplete cirthe progressive ionizationof the first tube H).

F The relays will be energized in succession. When l v be energized insuccession, completing circuit 4 relay 35 has been energized and hasmoved its switch arm 4| into engagement with its contact 43, circuitwill be completed through the operating coils of the relays 32, 33, 34,35 and 36 to the anode 2 of the second tube, whence circuit may betraced to the cathode of the second tube through the conductor 3|,through the first tube l0, through the conductor 30 to the negative sideof the rectifier assembly 21. The relays associated with the second tubeID will through the time-delay relay 45 to the anode l5 of the last tubel0 and from tube to tube back through the conductor 30 to the rectifierassembly 21. After the lapse of a predetermined time interval, the relay45 will become operative to break circuit between uni-directional power'sourc'e'21 and the tubes Ill-I0, discontinuing the illumination of saidtubes and allowing each of the relays to return to biased positionwherein the switch arms 4| thereof engage their respective contacts 42.After the lapse of a predetermined time interval determined by thesetting of the relay 32, the tubes Ill-l3 will go through another cycleof progressive illumination, these cycles being repeated until the mainswitch 9 is opened.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In progressive illuminating means, a gase ous tube of the hot cathodetype having a cathode and a plurality of anodes, each of said anodeshaving connected thereto a time-responsive relay, each of said relayshaving a switch contact biased toward electrical connection with itsindividual anode and adapted after a lapse of a predetermined timeinterval to pass current to the next succeeding anode in said tube.

2. In progressive illumination means, in combination, a gaseous tube ofthe hot cathode type having a cathode and a plurality of spaced anodes,each of said anodes having a relay connected thereto, each of saidrelays including a switch member normally connecting it with itscorresponding anode and adapted alternatively to be connected throughthe next succeeding relay to the anode associated with said nextsucceeding relay. 3. In combination, a plurality of gaseous tubes, eachprovided with a cathode and each provided with a plurality of anodes,said tubes being connected in series, a plurality of relays associatedwith said anodes, each of said relays being normally biased to aposition in which the operat-- ing coil thereof is in electricalconnection with its corresponding anode but adapted upon energization tohave electrical contact through the operating coil of the nextsucceeding relay to the anode associated with said next succeedingrelay.

4. In combination, a plurality of gaseous tubes, each provided with acathode and each provided with a plurality of anodes, said tubes beingcon nected in series, a plurality of relays associated with said anodes,each of said relays being normally biased to a position in which theoperating coil thereof is in electrical connection with itscorresponding anode but adapted upon energization to have electricalcontact through the operating coil of the next succeeding relay to theanode associated with said next succeeding relay, and time-responsivecircuit control means for interrupting circuit through said tubes.

5. In progressive illuminating means, a gaseous tube having a cathodeand a plurality of anodes, a plurality of time-responsive relays, eachhaving an operating coil, a movable switch element and a pair ofcontacts, each of said anodes being directly connected to acorresponding contact of said pairs of contacts, the other of saidcontacts being connected through the operating coil of the nextsucceeding relay to the movable switch element of said next succeedingrelay.

6. In progressive illuminating means, a plurality of gaseous tubes, eachhaving a cathode and a plurality of anodes, said tubes being connectedin series, a plurality of time-responsive relays, each having anoperating coil, a movable element and a pair of contacts, one of thecontacts of each relay being electrically connected to a correspondinganode in said tubes, each of said relays being adapted upon energizationto complete a circuit from the operating coil thereof, the movableswitch element thereof through the operating coil and the movable switchelement of the next succeeding relay to the next succeeding anode.

7. In progressive illuminating means, a. plurality of gaseous tubes,each having a cathode and a plurality of anodes, said tubes beingconnected in series, a plurality of time-responsive relays, each havingan operating coil, a movable element and a pair of contacts, one of thecontacts of each relay being electrically connected to a correspondinganode in said tubes, each of said relays being adapted upon energizationto complete a circuit from the operating coil thereof, the movableswitch element thereof through the operating ml and the movable switchelement of the next succeeding relay to the next succeeding anode, andmeans responsive to the flow of current to the last of said anodes forinterrupting the flow of current through said tubes.

RICHARD H. SEAMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,217,715 Crane Feb. 27, 19172,056,619 Reger et al Oct. 6, 1936 2,150,902 Van Bain Mar. 21, 1939

